Sunday morning thoughts

So yet again I have several thoughts I am entertaining in my noggin. Here we go........

   Getting old and paying the price. So this last week has been very taxing physically. Started out fine but nose dived on Wednesday. I won't bore you with the details but I blew out my back, my fault, lifted with my back not my legs. Instead of listening to my body ( and wife ), I went to class Wednesday anyways, dumb move. By Thursday morning, I couldn't move. It was so bad I had to get Deb to put my socks on for me ( okay, I'll admit it, I kinda liked that ). So I heeded her advice and stayed away from the I Ho Chuan class Thursday evening and by Friday, low and behold, I could move again ( got a few "I told you so" from my lovely wife, well deserved I'll admit  ). Then Saturday afternoon, I was walking to my truck, looking at the beautiful clouds in the sky ( darn you mother nature with all your beauty ) and BANG, stepped on uneven ground, rolled my ankle, scrapped my knee and bruised the palm of my hand. Kody says I looked hilarious with my flailing roll of doom ( ahh family, always there to point out your flaws - I wouldn't have it any other way ). I thought I actually did fairly well on my way down, I extended my arms just like a break fall, slapped the ground and rolled out of it onto my back. Still, OWWWW! Now my ankle is a cankle, my right palm feels like tenderized jello and my knee keeps reminding me to sit down and stay down.
   So here I am Sunday morning, thinking maybe, just maybe, it would be safer to have a coffee a read the paper that to go outside and risk round three with the cold hilarious hand of fate.

   Thursday night was doubly tough because I was sitting in my van WATCHING the I Ho Chuan class and not partaking in it. Arggg, I did not like that. From what I could see, it looked like a great class and then hearing about a possible pending demo, time to get busy. I now realize just how much these classes mean to me, I do not want to miss another one!

   Renos at Tanarrama. From the very limited time I was there, it looks as though everything went good. A huge shout out to those who showed up to help. Even though this was a requirement in your I Ho Chuan training, it was actually so much more than that. There is no better way to get to know your team mates then this, a social setting with a goal.

   Now is the time to help out silent River Kung Fu. There is an over abundance of inventory that needs a new home. Gym bags ( large and medium ), t-shirts, sparring gear, uniforms ( top AND bottom ), water bottles, various shields, etc....
   So look at your gear, is it pristine? Or does it look like you where rolling in sharp rocks, tattered and full of holes. If pristine, good on ya, if tattered, I know a place that NEEDS your help, remember, shop local people, your community needs you, amazon does not.

   Last but certainly not least, this last week Master Brinker brought up one of the pictures on the Kwoon's hallowed walls. Soke Dave Mcneill. After a little reading up on him, I can see why. I won't go into details, I'll leave that up to you. but I challenge each of us to take the time and look at and research each picture up there. They are there for a reason, find out why, it's worth the effort.

https://gojushorei.com/soke-mcneill/

Mental Maitenance

   This is one of those miscellaneous posts that has multiple topics so bear with me.

   Wuxin and Intent. I put this topic out there the other day because I love to hear other students thoughts and opinions on certain subjects. I find in class that when a topic is brought up as mysterious and complex as this one that it demands more thought and discussion. There was some great discussion on this and for that, I thank all those who responded, especially Master Brinker. The clarification he provided was obviously needed as this is a very important concept to grasp.
   This brings me to a sore point for me, asking questions. Sometimes I don't even know I have a question until hours or days after something is done or said. In class on Wednesday, I understood the definition of the word Wuxin when it was given ( again ) to us but I realized later I didn't even have the foggiest idea of what the definition even meant. The responses I got on Kwoon talk showed me I wasn't alone.
   This brings me to my point. Why are we all so quiet on Kwoon talk? This is a great platform to ask questions and discuss whatever you want ( Kung Fu related of course ). Actual class time is extremely limited but Kwoon talk is open 24/7. There is a multitude of instructors at the ready to help guide your journey. I really wish more students would ask/comment on the site, so I will keep asking my questions and HOPEFULLY I will hear from you all.
   To quote my Dad ( again ), "there are no stupid questions, only stupid mistakes", thanks again Dad.


 Numbers. Here is a quick up to date summary of my numbers so far;
Push ups         25247
Sit ups             25440
Sparring          1150 ( mostly shadow sparring obviously )
1609km           1518.2km
1000 AOK      772
Hand Form      458
Weapon Form  365
   Personal requirements rolling along at a nice pace, reevaluating and adjusting as required. So overall I am mostly happy with my numbers, but I know I can do better, so I will.


   Mr White-Hourse Strong, thank you for you blog on Mastery. Looking at it from the perspective of understanding versus memorizing is a very neat insight. I am having a stinker of a time memorizing it, but I haven't really tried to approach it  from the angle of understanding it instead. Great idea, thanks, I'll try that approach instead and hopefully it starts to stick a little better.


   Reno of Tanaramma. The call has been put out there for help, are you in? It is the week coming up. I am not sure of what actually needs to be done but many hands make light work. I can be there every day from 4:00 Pm on, I might even be able to squeeze in a few earlier days. I have a truck, tools and love grunt work, use me!


   Monday night Tai Chi. I love this class, knew I would but never made it a priority, thank you Covid for helping me out with that ( and of course Master Brinker, Sifu Vantuil and Sifu Dennis ). But, this class has really made me appreciate how quickly time can go when you are enjoying yourself. I'd swear that class has just begun and boom, we are bowing out. Nothing I can do about that other than absorb every moment I can. Thankfully there is the full 4 sections on Vimeo (SRKF Tai Chi Yang Style Long Form) to watch, beautiful to watch the whole form. 


Think that's all for now, see you on the mats, peace!

And Just Like That

Yesterday ( Saturday July 11, 2020 12PM to 1:45PM ) was a great team day. I am going to focus this blog on what I got out of this because I can not speak for others.

   That being said, WOW! What a great bunch of people we have here. I was not sure if everyone was as gung-ho as me to be there but it sure seemed like it. There was some initial nerves but that was to be expected. Once we settled in, boom, it started to happen just like it should. We shared ideas, we laughed, we critiqued each other's forms, we offered insights, shared experiences, we bonded. A couple of team members had never done a demo before, so we did a quick mock one and I think it turned out pretty darn good for an in prompt - non choreographed - on the fly demo. I also learned to leave the videoing to someone under 50 cause boy did I screw that up, watch the attached video ONLY after a bucket full of coffee.

   One of my take aways from yesterday was the help on my forms. I have been stuck on the ending of my Tonfa form, it lacks finality. I brought this up with Sifu Ward and Sifu Kohut, asked and shared my wants and ideas and boom - again!! With what insight and ideas they shared, I feel I can finally find the ending for my form that completes it, thank you Sifus!!

   Another take away was from Mr White-Horse Strong. I was watching him do his Lao Gar and saw a variation on his ending that made something in my mind say "ahhh, there it is". I asked him to show me his ending angles, he did, I tried it and guess what, boom, again!!! Thank you Mr White-Horse Strong.

   This opportunity to get together like this was awesome, I am so glad it happened. As a team, I feel closer to knowing this group as a team and as individuals. This was priceless, you can not get this kind of feed back from the sidelines, you must engage and put yourself out there to grow and learn from this type of opportunity. I am pumped to think what this team can accomplish if we continue on with this type of bonding.

   And finally, a thank you to my wife (  Deb ) for taking that step and putting a time and place to all the talk about this, where to next dear??

   Go Team Rat 2020!!!

Engage

      I've been thinking about my engagement a lot lately. I'm not just talking about Kung Fu, I'm talking about work, home, family, the whole ball of wax. It has been feeling like I am waiting for something to happen, the other shoe to drop, the curtain of will power to either finish closing or opening, someone to hold my hand and say "this way sir, your life is over here". I don't know.
   I was hoping Saturday's I Ho Chuan meeting would kick start me, but others seemed to be the same way, no one was talking or sharing (except for Sifu Vantuil and Sifu Cosgrove - thanks for sharing bye the way, the crickets were getting pretty loud with no one talking ). It's like a fog of uncertainty has settled upon the land, dulling the senses and restraining the juices of life. I find myself holding back, waiting for what I don't know. It has me concerned.
   I was driving the other day to St Albert with Kody to my mom's place to do some work at her house ( yard work, pour some concrete, etc ) and decided to have a chat with him on this subject to get his feelings. Well as any parent will attest to, a 14 year old teen age boy doesn't tend to share his feelings or thoughts very well. But I think I got my points across to him and it made me feel a little better being able to talk about what is eating at me. I find I am a touch bit envious of his ability to adapt to the new "now", much better than I am adapting to it. Not his fault, but it started a spark in me that I need to fan and grow it into a flame, then a fire, then an inferno.
   With the Kwoon opening up ( mostly ) this coming week, I find myself both anxious and angry at the same time.
   Anxious I get, training at home sucks but was vital to keep us engaged, and now we get the privilege of once again hitting the mats and training at a place that requires all go - no slow. Am I ready for this? I really hope so.
   Which bring me to angry, why am I even questioning if I am ready for this? If I was truly engaged over the part 3ish months of home training, I should be screaming at the top of my lungs " let me in, I want to learn kung fu! ". Instead I find myself feeling sheepish and hesitant, questioning my lethargic approach to my training. I am mad at myself for my procrastination and all my talking about it. No ones fault but my own, as Master Brinker tells us "Own it". He has tried to keep me/us engaged with an effort that can only be described as herculean. Thank you for that Master Brinker and all the other Sifus who, during this time of uncertainty,  have virtual tried to keep us engaged through online classes, one on one meetings, free Tai Chi classes, etc. Thank you all.
  I guess the least I can do is try and return the favor buy getting more.... everything.

See you Monday on the mats!